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Heritage City sees sharp spike in COVID-19 cases

The Nelson Daily Staff
By The Nelson Daily Staff
August 5th, 2021

The Heritage City saw a sharp spike in new COVID-19 cases during the last week of July the BC Center of Disease Control Graphic Distribution by Local Health Area of Case Residence map released Wednesday showed.

The graphic showed Nelson more than doubled its COVID-19 cases from 13 between July 18-24 to 38 from July 25-31.

The increase in cases forced a few businesses to close during last weekend as some staff members were forced into self-isolation due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Castlegar, also is a concern for health officials in the West Kootenay, saw its numbers drop from 29 the previous week to 18 from July 25-31.

Trail had 11 cases while Cranbrook topped the East Kootenay with 16 new COVID-19 cases.

No other Local Health Area in the Kootenays had more than three new COVID-19 cases.

Vaccination statistics from the BCCDC in Nelson as of August 3, 2021 shows:

  • 12-plus — 70 per cent has received its first shot; 57 per cent second dose
  • 18-plus — 71 per cent has received its first shot; 60 per cent second dose
  • 18-49 — 63 per cent has received its first shot; 47 per cent second dose
  • 50-plus — 79 per cent has received its first shot; 72 per cent second dose

In the Central Okanagan, where Interior Health imposed new restrictions — including placing a regional mandatory mask order for all public indoor spaces in Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Kelowna and Lake Country, the case count topped the 450 total.

Vernon registered 59 cases while Salmon Arm and Enderby, in the North Okanagan, recorded 20 and nine, respectively.

Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported 342 new cases of COVID-19 — the most new cases since late May —  including six epi-linked cases, for a total of 150,973 cases in the province. 

Interior Health reported more than half of the new COVID-19 cases in the province, with 171 new reports.

The Ministry said there are currently 1,764 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 147,409 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 55 individuals are in hospital and 23 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Nelson ballooned to 38 new COVID-19 cases during the last week of July. 

The new/active cases include:

  • 66 new cases in Fraser Health— Total active cases: 388
  • 57 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health — Total active cases: 258
  • 171 new cases in Interior Health — Total active cases: 945
  • 13 new cases in Northern Health — Total active cases: 52
  • 32 new cases in Island Health — Total active cases: 109
  • three new cases of people who reside outside of Canada — Total active cases: 12

During thepast 24 hours, no new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,772.

There are five active outbreaks in:

  • long-term care: Holyrood Manor (Fraser Health), Nelson Jubilee Manor, Kootenay Street Village, Cottonwoods Care Centre and Brookhaven Care Centre (Interior Health)

Interior Health said one resident and two staff members tested positive at Nelson Jubilee Manor.

Categories: GeneralHealth

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